Embedded Files
As an editorial staff, we are made up of a group of sophomores, juniors and seniors. As we look back on our high school years already, there are definitely pieces of advice we’d share with our freshman selves.
Freshman year can come with many new worries and challenges that you wouldn’t expect. You’ve just started at a new school with new teachers and their new philosophies; some teachers give you independence and more leeway in the sense that you’ll need to learn how to manage your time one way or another. On the other hand, teachers may keep you on a structured schedule, allowing you to plan and track your schoolwork for weeks to come. There are immense advantages that come with both styles of teaching. It is important that you accept the differences and use them to your advantage.
Our editorial staff has all experienced that first day of freshman year: setting your alarm an hour early just to make sure you arrive on time and ready to go, stressing about classes and where you’ll go after lunch, and overthinking every aspect of the day, just to find out high school really isn’t that bad. Reflecting on our personal experiences, we have identified a few key ideas that we believe incoming freshmen should be aware of. Having academic advice from students who have previously been in your shoes is always beneficial to help lead to success.
Many people believe that missing a few days here and there doesn’t significantly impact them in the long run. In fact, the exact opposite is true. Attending school regularly increases the chances of keeping steady grades. Make an effort to consistently show up to school.
Our best advice for keeping good grades is to just turn in your work. Missing assignments take the biggest toll on your grade, so always turning in assignments is the best thing you can do. Now that you have more classes to juggle, homework can get overwhelming.
We discussed many strategies to help you organize. Our favorite tool, accessible on the school-issued computers, is Google Keep. This site allows you to organize all your homework into each specific class. Another easy and efficient way to organize information is just on a posted note or notes app. Any list is greatly beneficial.
There are many opportunities Anderson offers to help you out academically. Use these resources to your advantage. During advisory, make use of the 25 minutes provided, by working on your homework and going to your teachers to get help. All your teachers want you to succeed, so don’t be afraid to go to them for extra assistance.
Your grades do matter, so it’s extremely important that you take class seriously. Be cautious of other people in class who are also trying to focus. The first year at high school is the building block for the rest of your academic career. Put yourself in a good position for the years to come. You don’t want to look back and wish that you tried harder when you're completely capable of doing that now. Our staff agreed that the one thing we wished different from ourselves freshman year was the desire to complete work and complete it thoroughly. Take the opportunity now to set yourself up for success.
Staying involved outside of school is just as valuable. Join the clubs, go to the games, and support your school. Participation in extracurricular activities brings you closer to the people around you. If you decide to go to the games, don’t be afraid to show school spirit: do the chants, wear the theme, be present!
Make the most of your time in high school, it goes by faster than you think. In the big scheme, high school is definitely not as serious as people make it seem; that game you just lost or that test you just failed will not affect you and where you are in 20 years. Enjoy what you have when you have it: embrace new experiences.
Report abuse